603 research outputs found
Rate of Homogeneous Crystal Nucleation in molten NaCl
We report a numerical simulation of the rate of crystal nucleation of sodium
chloride from its melt at moderate supercooling. In this regime nucleation is
too slow to be studied with "brute-force" Molecular Dynamics simulations. The
melting temperature of ("Tosi-Fumi") NaCl is K. We studied crystal
nucleation at =800K and 825K. We observe that the critical nucleus formed
during the nucleation process has the crystal structure of bulk NaCl.
Interestingly, the critical nucleus is clearly faceted: the nuclei have a
cubical shape. We have computed the crystal-nucleation rate using two
completely different approaches, one based on an estimate of the rate of
diffusive crossing of the nucleation barrier, the other based on the Forward
Flux Sampling and Transition Interface Sampling (FFS-TIS) methods. We find that
the two methods yield the same result to within an order of magnitude. However,
when we compare the extrapolated simulation data with the only available
experimental results for NaCl nucleation, we observe a discrepancy of nearly 5
orders of magnitude. We discuss the possible causes for this discrepancy
Crystallization of hard-sphere glasses
We study by molecular dynamics the interplay between arrest and
crystallization in hard spheres. For state points in the plane of volume
fraction () and polydispersity (), we delineate states that spontaneously crystallize from those that do
not. For noncrystallizing (or precrystallization) samples we find
isodiffusivity lines consistent with an ideal glass transition at , independent of . Despite this, for , crystallization
occurs at . This happens on time scales for which the system is
aging, and a diffusive regime in the mean square displacement is not reached;
by those criteria, the system is a glass. Hence, contrary to a widespread
assumption in the colloid literature, the occurrence of spontaneous
crystallization within a bulk amorphous state does not prove that this state
was an ergodic fluid rather than a glass.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Condotte compulsive in paziente con sindrome di Aicardi. agenesia del corpo calloso
The corpus callosum, which is the largest white matter structure in the brain of all placental mammals, connects the left and right
cerebral hemispheres. An alteration in its morphology, hypoconnectivity or hyperconnectivity is a common marker of various
neuropsychiatric pathologies. One of these is Aicardi syndrome, which is characterized by a triad of callosal agenesis, infantile
spasms and chorioretinal lacunae. Patients affected by Aicardi syndrome frequently display other malformations together with
congenital defects of the eyes, ribs and vertebrae. Based on the current clinical knowledge, this syndrome is now recognized as
a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that includes neurological and constitutional symptoms. However, literature data have
not yet defined the presence of a particular set of symptoms in psychiatric patients with this condition. The present case is the
first report in which an on-going compulsive behaviour focused on the insistence to order objects has been observed in Aicardi syndrom
Dissociative symptoms in female patients with mood and anxiety disorders: a psychopathological and temperamental investigation.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Dissociative symptoms are frequent among psychiatric patients and may considerably affect patients' psychopathological condition and treatment outcomes. The objectives of the study are to assess the presence of dissociative symptoms in female patients with mood and anxiety disorders, to investigate their correlation with the clinical severity of the disorders and to investigate those personality traits that are more frequent in patients with high levels of dissociation.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
50 Caucasian females were enrolled in the study. Patients were assessed through the Self-Report Symptom Check-List, the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and rating scales for Depression and Anxiety.
RESULTS:
The mean DES score in the overall sample was 16.6. 32% of patients had a DES score > 20. Depressive symptoms positively correlated with the DES total scores. Dissociator patients presented some significantly different temperamental characteristics in comparison with non dissociator patients.
CONCLUSIONS:
Dissociative symptoms are highly present in patients with mood and anxiety disorders and correlate with the severity of depressive symptoms. Specific personality traits more frequently observed in dissociator people may represent predisposing factors; their early identification could be clinically relevant
In The Best Interest Of The (Adult) Child: Ideas About Kinship Care Of Older Adults
This article uses a qualitative, ethnographic approach to examine the experiences older adults and their kin, as the older adult engages in relocation. Studies looking at caregiving by kin for older adults highlight burdens for the adult child. This study offers a life course perspective on kinship care, analyzing older adults’ decisions’ to move. It was found that many older adults are strongly influenced by the desire to not be cared for by their kin as well as to select housing near their existing social network, which might exclude kin. In conclusion, policy implications are discussed
Negative symptoms as key features of depression among cannabis users: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE:
Cannabis use is frequent among depressed patients and may lead to the so-called "amotivational syndrome", which combines symptoms of affective flattening and loss of emotional reactivity (i.e. the so-called "negative" symptomatology). The aim of this study was to investigate the negative symptomatology in depressed patients with concomitant cannabis use disorders (CUDs) in comparison with depressed patients without CUDs.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Fifty-one patients with a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and concomitant CUD and fifty-one MDD patients were enrolled in the study. The 21-Item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the negative symptoms subscales of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were used to assess depressive and negative symptomatology.
RESULTS:
Patients with cannabis use disorders presented significantly more severe negative symptoms in comparison with patients without cannabis use (15.18 ± 2.25 vs 13.75 ± 2.44; t100 = 3.25 p = 0.002).
DISCUSSION:
A deeper knowledge of the "negative" psychopathological profile of MDD patients who use cannabis may lead to novel etiopathogenetic models of MDD and to more appropriate treatment approaches
Local structure of liquid carbon controls diamond nucleation
Diamonds melt at temperatures above 4000 K. There are no measurements of the
steady-state rate of the reverse process: diamond nucleation from the melt,
because experiments are difficult at these extreme temperatures and pressures.
Using numerical simulations, we estimate the diamond nucleation rate and find
that it increases by many orders of magnitude when the pressure is increased at
constant supersaturation. The reason is that an increase in pressure changes
the local coordination of carbon atoms from three-fold to four-fold. It turns
out to be much easier to nucleate diamond in a four-fold coordinated liquid
than in a liquid with three-fold coordination, because in the latter case the
free-energy cost to create a diamond-liquid interface is higher. We speculate
that this mechanism for nucleation control is relevant for crystallization in
many network-forming liquids. On the basis of our calculations, we conclude
that homogeneous diamond nucleation is likely in carbon-rich stars and unlikely
in gaseous planets
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